Organize to Help Home Care Workers

If you know anyone who is an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker or a recipient who benefits from these vital services, you have probably heard about the struggle to win better wages and benefits for homecare workers.

You are invited to learn more about this ongoing struggle – and how you can get involved – at one of the following community coffee meetings later this week:

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These meetings are being hosted by the California United Homecare Workers (CUHW), the union that represents IHSS providers in Humboldt County. Our statewide President Gail Ennis will be available to answer questions, as will local members and organizers.

This is an open invitation to all homecare workers, IHSS recipients, and anyone else who is interested in learning more. We’ll treat you to a cup of coffee or tea and chat about this important struggle.

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It’s ridiculous that these people are paid so little. What’s even more appalling to me is that they have no health insurance. How can people on the front lines of the health care system not actually have health insurance themselves?

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They call it a living wage, but officials noted you’d be hard pressed to pay rent, grocery, gas and other bills while making $10.05 an hour.

More than 1,600 in-home supportive services workers, the lowest-paid county contractors, will get a raise next year, boosting the pay to $10.35 an hour for workers with benefits, and from $11.55 per hour to $11.90 per hour for those without benefits.

The 3.2 percent cost-of-living raise will be the first for the workers since 2008.

A survey indicated that Marin in-home workers who get benefits are among the highest paid among California counties, ranking at $11.55 an hour behind only Santa Clara County, which pays $12.20 an hour. Most comparable counties pay such workers $11.50.

Madeline Kellner, executive director of Marin’s In-Home Supportive Services public authority agency, noted it is “very challenging” to get by on $11.55 an hour in Marin.

“This county is unique,” she told the county board, adding few others are issuing raises. “Very few other counties are doing anything like this.”

“Even with this modest increase, this really isn’t a living wage in Marin County,” said Supervisor Susan Adams. “I’m very happy to support this today.”